Government spokesman Albert Camara said Wednesday that the army had been deployed to N’Zerekore, Guinea’s second-largest city, to restore order. Hroe said tension in the area remained “palpable.”

A resident said violence began Monday in Koule, a village 40 kilometers (25 miles) outside of N’Zerekore, when members of the Guerze ethnic group beat a young Konianke man to death after accusing him of stealing from a gas station.

Witnesses in N’Zerekore said some victims had been beheaded with machetes.

Guinea is preparing for legislative elections in September that have already sparked violence protests.

President Alpha Conde on Tuesday appealed for calm and vowed to bring perpetrators to justice.